Doctors defend strike intentions blaming it on government neglect

- Dr Ankobea said the government the public in fulfilling the agreement it has with the GMA

Ghanaian doctors have defended their intention to strike over outstanding emoluments. The doctors are arguing that their motive does not stem out insensitivity but rather governments failure to do as it promised.

The doctors believe the public must hold government to its social contract of providing for them (the people). They say it is misguided for the blame to be put on health professionals

Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview, the president of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Frank Ankobea, said doctors were normal employees who deserved decent treatment by their employers.

Doctors in Ghana have perennially fought government over remuneration. Photo credit: Google Images

With a membership of about 7,000, a strike by GMA doctors will come with irreversible consequences maybe even deaths.

Dr Ankobea said: “We are employees. We cannot continue to be cheated by the employer like that"

“Remember (that) we go to the same market with everybody. Remember we are also humans. But it is appearing that governments can only listen to one thing. It is when you withdraw your service that government will listen to you."